Title: Recreation & National Conservation Lands Intern (2 openings)

Start/End Date: Fall 2023 - Spring 2024* (anticipated)

Living Stipend: $600/week

Term: 24 weeks

Reports To: Ray Castro (Outdoor Recreation Planner)

Location: BLM Yuma Field Office (7341 E. 30th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365)

Status: 900-hour AmeriCorps Service Term, full-time, temporary

Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,247.50; Public Lands Corps Certificate*; both with successful completion of the service term.

*A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty.

**To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.

Summary:

Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC):

Arizona Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. AZCC is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff and Tucson.

Position Summary:

The Recreation & National Conservation Lands Internship is designed for recent college graduates with a Bachelor’s degree and prior recreation or natural resource conservation work experience. The intern will have an opportunity to transition from an academic to a professional work environment by assisting with the administration of multiple uses and conservation of resources on public lands.

The Yuma BLM Field Office manages approximately 1.2 million acres of public land in southwestern Arizona and adjacent to the Colorado River in southeastern California. The office also administers one of the largest recreation programs in the agency that includes 2 long-term visitor areas and several developed recreation sites along the Colorado River. The Yuma Field Office does not have available housing. Interns must provide their own personal transportation to the duty office.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

Serve on interdisciplinary teams to address resource management issues associated with trail construction or maintenance, recreation, restoration, and resource protection projects. Gather field data including GPS data, photography, visitor use and preferences, and other information to develop/maintain/revise wilderness, recreation, or other project plans. This includes documentation and compliance for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Develop a monthly list of work priorities in coordination with the BLM Program Officer or Technical Representative.
Coordinate with office staff, research available information, and make use of photography, remote sensing and GIS, graphics, writing, and computer skills to develop interpretive materials and presentations for youth outreach, general environmental education, and resource protection.

Expand coordination skills by working with BLM staff, volunteers, local schools and youth organizations, conservation corps crews, and other partners to complete a variety of field projects.
Assist with recreation site maintenance. Design, install, and maintain signs, kiosks, and interpretive modules to provide on-site information about land use regulations, to assist with environmental education and enjoyment of the Public Lands, and for resource protection efforts.
Conduct special area (wilderness and national historic trail) and/or recreation site monitoring and public outreach to provide information about regulations for use of Public Lands, for resource protection, and recreation fee compliance.

Required Skills

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in one of the natural sciences, recreation management, or another related field of study (i.e. geology, archaeology, geography/GIS, etc.).
The ability to conduct field work in a remote, rugged, desert environment. This may require camping over several days.
Experience in trail construction and recreation site maintenance.
Minimum of 1 year of experience in resource conservation/recreation work.
Applicants must pass a DOI security background check and should possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

Previous experience with a Corps or youth serving organization.
Teamwork oriented with clear, direct communication and interpersonal skills.
Experience working in geology or natural resource conservation, including public outreach
Proficiency in writing for resource planning and environmental education.
Formal education and experience with geographic information systems (GIS) technologies including global positioning system (GPS) data collection and processing.

Physical Requirements:

Work to be performed in arduous conditions in all types of weather, dust, and extreme summer temperatures. Willingness to hike in rough terrain.
Must be able to drive a 4x4 and off-highway vehicle on remote, primitive, unmaintained dirt roads, and tow trailers loaded with equipment or materials, while continually assessing staff and equipment safety during work shift.
Must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, computer, reach with hands and arms, use hand tools such as picks, shovels, sledge hammers, 20 – 30 pound post pounders, and motorized equipment including chainsaws, augers, concrete mixer, variety of electrical saws, drills, and other tools used for trail, recreation site/road maintenance.
Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements:

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to mentors, colleagues, and organization staff.
Appropriately represent Arizona Conservation Corps, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment:

Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crisis.
Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. This process will determine the internship’s exact start date.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter along with the online application. If you have questions, contact AZCC’s Individual Placement Coordinator Preston Sands at psands@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit www.azcorps.org. Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy.

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